Below is a fascinating program featuring Bill Evans, the famous jazz pianist. The program was produced in the early 1960's.
While Bill Evans discusses creativity in the context of jazz music, his thought applies to every aspect of life and effort. Evans discusses how jazz is not so much a style as it is a process of creativity. Evans says, "In an absolute sense jazz is more of a creative process of spontaneity than a style."
Evans says of himself (surprisingly) that he did not consider himself as talented as many others but believed that this was an advantage because, since he did not have a great facility, it forced him to build on what he was able to master and become more analytical.
On the point of being patient, Evans says that most people do not realize the immensity of the problem (i.e. self expression and allowing art to penetrate you subconscious) and either because they can't conquer that problem immediately they think that they haven't got the ability; or they are so impatient to conquer it that they never see it through. But, Evans says, if you do understand the problem you can enjoy the whole trip. And every step of the way in the trip is a process. It is this process that is the heart of jazz and not the style that we associate with it. The point, again, is that jazz is a creative process of isolating each component part and building and superimposing on that basic structure.
On the tricky point of teaching jazz, Evans says that it ends up that the jazz player actually teaches himself and that ultimately the jazz musician must select and discard according to his own style.
Well worth the half hour or so of time it takes to watch! Steve Allen does a good job of introducing the segments.
While Bill Evans discusses creativity in the context of jazz music, his thought applies to every aspect of life and effort. Evans discusses how jazz is not so much a style as it is a process of creativity. Evans says, "In an absolute sense jazz is more of a creative process of spontaneity than a style."
Evans says of himself (surprisingly) that he did not consider himself as talented as many others but believed that this was an advantage because, since he did not have a great facility, it forced him to build on what he was able to master and become more analytical.
On the point of being patient, Evans says that most people do not realize the immensity of the problem (i.e. self expression and allowing art to penetrate you subconscious) and either because they can't conquer that problem immediately they think that they haven't got the ability; or they are so impatient to conquer it that they never see it through. But, Evans says, if you do understand the problem you can enjoy the whole trip. And every step of the way in the trip is a process. It is this process that is the heart of jazz and not the style that we associate with it. The point, again, is that jazz is a creative process of isolating each component part and building and superimposing on that basic structure.
On the tricky point of teaching jazz, Evans says that it ends up that the jazz player actually teaches himself and that ultimately the jazz musician must select and discard according to his own style.
Well worth the half hour or so of time it takes to watch! Steve Allen does a good job of introducing the segments.
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